From: The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.tt/letters/2011/03/14/what-can-be-done-make-carnival-betterWhat can be done to make carnival better
Published: Mon, 2011-03-14 21:03
One of the things that stood out when I returned to Trinidad after living abroad for over ten years was how little things had changed. The pothole outside KFC in Maraval was still there and the shop with the pies opposite the Oval was just as I remembered: the pies in the brown bags and the pepper sauce with the same wooden spoon in an aluminium bowl on the counter. I had the same feeling while attending the Carnival celebrations this year. With the exception of a new Grand Stand and North Stand, not much have changed.
The steel pan orchestras were on Savannah “the drag” taking their own sweet time to get on stage, there were no new developments in moving the bands along, no motorised locomotives to pull the pans, no innovation to allow for a faster set-up time for the bands. There was no one ensuring the bands got to the stage quickly and no one seemed a bit concerned about the fact that this competition can be improved.
The possibility that the time it takes to set up a band could be cut in half, that lighting can be improved, that the stage can be set up for rotation, that the entrance to “the drag” could be controlled for vending and listening to the bands as they practise with paid entry seemed to elude many.
Carnival Monday and Tuesday celebrations were just as they were over the years: People moving without purpose, some youths running in groups through the crowd with backpacks; a mass of humanity gyrating to the beat of soca, no order; the bands of the rich roped off with security to keep the unwanted from disturbing their fun; unlimited liquor, loud music, people urinating on walls and between cars, garbage everywhere and disorder. Carnival in Port-of-Spain, just as it was years ago. Is there ever going to be a time when temporary toilets are placed in special areas to allow the masses at Carnival to relieve themselves in dignity?
Will there ever be a route that is convenient to the bands where there are temporary seating along the route, and vending in a controlled manner? Will access to the route be controlled where one has to gain access by paying an entrance fee? Would there be signs indicating the route for the parade of the bands along the route? Would the size of the vehicles be controlled? Will there be controls on emission? Will there be controls on the sound levels? Would there be controls on people allowed within the bands? Will there be stipulations that restrict those not playing mas to areas outside the parade route where they can jump up without affecting those who pay to play?
Will there ever be a Carnival museum where the kings and queens of years ago can be viewed? How about a place where one can see the costume “Man Crab” or “Tan-Tan” and “Saga Boy?” Carnival can be developed outside of government. Investors can build mas factories where costumes can be mass-produced for bands, innovative ways can be found to move the pans quickly in formation for Panorama. (Exodus has started in that direction). The entire celebration can be controlled to minimise the mass of confusion of people interacting with the masquerades. The entire show can be managed to attract more foreigners, provide safety and order and marketed to maximise the income from the “Greatest Show on Earth.”
New York hosts a number of parades each year—from Labour Day to the St Patrick’s Day Parade and Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. These attract millions of people to the city. We can extract the best from them and tweak them to maintain a true Trini flavour. Alternatively we can continue the celebration of disorder that demonstrates to the world that we are a people a long way from the levels of civilisation and order that allow for arriving at First World status.
Steve Alvarez
Political leader, DPTT
